just noticed something i was unaware of -- some git commands can't be run if i'm in the .git directory, while others can. for example, if i "cd .git", commands like this work just fine: $ git show $ git branch $ git log but others seem unwilling to determine the "working tree": $ git status fatal: This operation must be run in a work tree $ and: $ git stash list fatal: /usr/libexec/git-core/git-stash cannot be used without a working tree. $ what's the distinction between commands that can work this way, and commands that can't? rday p.s. i will refrain from pointing out the inconsistency in using the phrases "work tree" and "working tree" to mean the same thing, when there is a distinct "worktree" entity. -- ======================================================================== Robert P. J. Day Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA http://crashcourse.ca Twitter: http://twitter.com/rpjday LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/rpjday ========================================================================